Local Government Manpower Committee

HC Deb 22 February 1949 vol 461 cc1693-5

69. Mr. Cooper

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now give the names of the chairman and members of the Local Government Manpower Committee; when it is expected that it will complete its investigation; what are the reasons for not making the report public; and what considerations were taken into account in deciding to set up an interdepartmental committee in preference to a select committee.

Sir S. Cripps

I will circulate the names of the chairman and members of this committee in the OFFICIAL REPORT. As will be seen it is a joint body of representatives of central and local government. It is impossible to say when it will complete its investigations, but I hope that results of its work may be announced from time to time. This joint body is engaged in working out the solution of day-to-day administrative problems; a select committee would not have been an appropriate body for such a purpose.

Mr. Cooper

Would not the Chancellor agree that an indispensable contribution could be made to the work of this Committee by independent Members who have experience in local and national government affairs; would he consider adding to the Committee those people who have such experience outside the Civil Service; and would he also give an assurance that the report will be published in due time?

Sir S. Cripps

No. The general opinion of the local government representatives particularly was that it was more likely that we should get fruitful results if the Committee consisted only of those of whom I have already spoken.

Following are the names:

Chairman

• P. D. Proctor, Esq., C.B.—Treasury.

Vice-Chairman

• Sir Arthur L. Hobhouse, J.P.—Chairman, County Councils Association (England and Wales).

Members

• Sir John C. Wrigley, K.B.E., C.B.—Ministry of Health.
• Sir William Cleary, K.B.E., C.B.—Ministry of Education.
• J. R. Willis, Esq., M.C.—Ministry of Transport.
• W. S. Murrie, Esq., C.B.—Home Office.
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• Dame Evelyn Sharp, D.B.E.—Ministry of Town and Country Planning.
• Sir Harold H. Wiles, K.B.E., C.B.—Ministry of Labour and National Service.
• A. Hibbs, Esq.—Post Office.
• W. Armstrong, Esq., M.V.O.—Treasury.
• Lieut.-Colonel H. Shiner, Sir Sidney M. Johnson—County Councils Associations.
• Alderman Sir Miles E. Mitchell, J.P., G. H. Banwell, Esq.—Association of Municipal Corporations.
• F. L. Snow, Esq., S. L. Meggeson, Esq., A. J. Lees, Esq., C.B.E.—Urban District Councils Association.
• N. Hobson, Esq., The Rev. R. A. Giles, J. J. McIntyre, Esq.—Rural District Councils Association.
• W. G. Boys, Esq., H. Brooke, Esq., J. R. Howard Roberts, C.B.E.—London County Council.
• Alderman N. G. M. Prichard, Sir Parker Morris—Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee.
• Dr. W. P. Alexander—Association of Education Committees.

Joint Secretaries

• E. W. Maude, Esq.—Treasury.
• D. Somerville, Esq.—Ministry of Health.